COLUMBUS -- In two more weeks, Devontae Payne should know. That's when the Ohio State coaches told the Cleveland South senior they'll decide whether they're adding a quarterback to a 2009 recruiting class that already includes 25 oral commitments.

"They weren't going to take a quarterback," Payne said, "and now they're thinking of taking one."

Whether the Buckeyes take one in this class or not, they're already trying to line up the next Terrelle Pryor. At the moment, that could be Huber Heights Wayne sophomore Braxton Miller. That's the plan Miller said OSU coach Jim Tressel outlined to him when he made an oral scholarship offer to him over the phone eight days ago.

"He talked about me taking over after Pryor in a couple years," Miller said, "and he said, 'I've got something for you.' And I said, 'What could that be?' And he said, 'A full scholarship to Ohio State.' "

While Tressel faced questions this week about whether Todd Boeckman might rejoin Pryor in the quarterback mix against Michigan State on Saturday, the Buckeyes need to find more answers at the position after this season. When Boeckman graduates, only Pryor and redshirt freshman Joe Bauserman will remain at quarterback, though current freshman defensive back Orhian Johnson played quarterback in high school.

But that doesn't seem like something the Buckeyes want to rely on. After the off-season transfers of QBs Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton, something needs to be done. It will be interesting to see where the Buckeyes turn.

Thomas Ondrey / Plain DealerCleveland South senior QB Devontae Payne is on Ohio State's radar and may be offered a scholarship to play for the Buckeyes.

Tressel has said in the past that he likes to recruit two types of quarterback -- a pocket passer and more of a dual threat, so that the offense has options. He did it with Justin Zwick and Troy Smith.

Payne, at 6-5 and 220 pounds, would fit that contrasting role.

"They've got a running quarterback, and I'm more about sticking in the pocket," said Payne, who said he's had weekly contact with Cleveland-area OSU recruiter Taver Johnson. "I've got a strong arm, but I think I make good decisions, too."

Payne said he has scholarship offers from Akron and Toledo and also has talked with Syracuse and Kansas State. Ohio State also has thought about Glenville quarterback Terrance Owens and Kevin Newsome from Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia. Newsome backed off an original commitment to Michigan and is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks not yet taken.

His father, Kevin Newsome Sr., told Bucknuts.com last week that his son was considering Ohio State, among many other schools.

But it's Miller who might be the future -- and the signal that the Buckeyes may not have a pocket passer in the backfield for a while. It should be easier to snag another top-ranked QB recruit with a little breathing room between the classes. Miller will be a freshman when Pryor is a senior -- if Pryor is around for his senior year.

"If you're a quarterback just out of high school, most quarterbacks want to play as soon as possible," said former OSU recruiting coordinator Bill Conley. "But next year or the year after that, I think it's very much a positive for a guy to come in and learn under Terrelle Pryor. I think probably the Ohio State coaching staff, because of Pryor's athleticism, will continue to recruit that type of quarterback."

Kevin Miller, Braxton Miller's father, said his son first came to Ohio State's attention during a summer camp at the school before his freshman year of high school. During drills, someone called over running backs coach Dick Tressel to watch Braxton. By the next day, Dick Tressel brought over Jim Tressel.

"They're real similar," Kevin Miller said of his son and Pryor, though Braxton said he thinks he might look to throw a little bit more. "I have no doubt that he could run the offense at Ohio State. But that's going to be his choice," said dad.

Braxton Miller, sidelined for the rest of this reason with a broken bone in his right leg, made an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Purdue game. He's the cousin of former OSU receiver Dee Miller and grew up a Buckeye fan. But more important than who he's related to is who he plays like.

OSU senior offensive lineman Steve Rehring said this week that some of the problems on the offensive line stem from the switch in blocking brought about by the change from pocket passer Boeckman to the more mobile Pryor.

If your quarterbacks play the same way, that shouldn't be a problem. And just four games into Pryor's career as a starter, it's not too early to think about who, and what type of quarterback, comes next.

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